The Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education, in York, will host its annual Beekeeper Training Program beginning January 21, 2026. Now in its 11th year, the year-long program is led by Mark Gingrich, professional beekeeper and owner of Gingrich Apiaries. He provides aspiring backyard beekeepers with classroom instruction and hands-on experience in managing hives at a residential scale.

Nine monthly sessions are scheduled at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. Three classroom sessions cover honeybee biology, ecology and seasonal preparations, while spring through fall sessions give participants the opportunity to tend live apiaries on the farm. At the end of the first year, students may take home a colony and enroll in a second-year program at a discounted rate to continue independent hive management.

Designed for hobbyists and small business entrepreneurs, the program emphasizes small-scale, sustainable beekeeping. Topics include attracting pollinators, hive stewardship and harvesting honey and wax.

Since 2004, Horn Farm Center has provided hands-on training in regenerative agriculture, ecological restoration and sustainable land management.

Cost: First-year students pay $500, with the option to submit a $100 nonrefundable deposit and pay the remainder in installments. Location: 4945 Horn Rd., York. Registration is limited and early enrollment is encouraged. For more information or to register, call 717-757-6441 or visit HornFarmCenter.org/beekeeper-training.